A/N: Okay here is the next chapter. I am sorry for keeping you all in suspense. Thank you for all your comments! I do not own Leverage.
Sophie rushed to the door and flung it open. The person on the other side brought tears to her eyes.
''Mum? Why are you crying? Sorry, I forgot my keys. You are back! I have missed you so much!''
Sophie took her daughter in her arms and held her tight.
''Mum, are you okay? You're hurting me a little. What's going on?''
''I'm sorry honey. I've missed you too. Everything is okay; you are okay.''
Sophie loosened her grip on her daughter but she couldn't let her go just yet.
''Yes Mum, I am fine. I missed my plane yesterday and today on the way home from the airport the taxi driver got a little lost. Now can we please go inside? Parker looks like she is going to burst if she doesn't have her chance to hug me soon.''
''Yes, of course. Come in, come in.''
Sophie let her daughter go and gathered up her daughter's luggage while Parker finally took her chance to hug Audrey. Nate and Hardison made their way back downstairs, while Eliot finally emerged from the kitchen.
''Hey, when did all you get here? Damit Hardison! You were supposed to let me know when they got home! I couldn't hear anything over the stove.''
''Hey, sorry man!''
Eliot glared at Hardison as he gave Nate a pat on the back, then he made his way over to Sophie and Audrey. He gave each of them a big welcome home hug before heading back to the kitchen to finish preparing dinner.
Nate made his ways towards his daughter.
''Welcome home my pretty girl.''
Audrey gave her a father a big smile then went straight into his arms.
''Thanks Dad. It's good to be home and to have all of us back together.''
''Yes, it is.''
Nate smiled at her daughter then turned towards Hardison.
''Hardison do you mind bringing Audrey's bags up to her room?''
Hardison gave a huff but he did what Nate asked and took the bags from Sophie. Parker decided to help him when she saw him struggling to balance all the luggage. When Parker and Hardison returned, Eliot announced that dinner was ready and they all gathered around the table and began eating. During dinner Nate and Sophie told the rest of the team about their honeymoon in Paris, then Audrey told them about her trip to New York. Parker was still wondering the reason why Audrey missed her flight the first time and she wanted an answer.
''Audrey, why did you miss your flight?''
Audrey seemed caught off guard by the question and tried to come up with an explanation fast. Then Audrey turned to Parker, consciously avoiding eye contact with her mother.
''Oh, um, it's silly… The night before my mother and I… Laura and I… no my mother and I went to go see Wicked for the millionth time and we stayed at the Ritz. It is short of a tradition of ours. We would do that whenever I was home from break. We forgot to ask for a wakeup call and we overslept. Really, it was no big deal.''
Parker looked pleased at Audrey's answer. Even Hardison and Eliot didn't question it. Nate and Sophie however were skeptical. Audrey had gotten better at thinking quick on her feet and lying, she was Sophie's daughter after all, but there was something off about her story. They continued dinner and after everyone was finished they all helped to clean up. Eliot, Parker and Hardison all wanted to stay around longer but they knew Nate and Sophie had to be tired from their long flight and Audrey had to be tired as well. They said their goodbyes and left the new family alone. Audrey headed to her room to unpack, and Nate and Sophie went to their room to do the same. Sophie was about to go to her daughter's room to ask about the real reason why she missed her flight but she was stopped by her husband who grabbed her from behind and started laying soft kisses on her neck.
''Nate come on. I need to talk to Audrey. There was something not right about her story. You caught that too, right?''
''I know, I did, but we all had a busy day and you know Audrey, she'll not tell you what you want to know if you push her. She will tell you when she is ready. How about you take a nice relaxing bath while I finish unpacking?''
Sophie gave Nate a surprised look. Usually he would try to get out of unpacking. She had to practically beg him to help her to pack before the honeymoon. Nate was right about Audrey, perhaps she should give it some time. She also didn't want to give up the once in a lifetime opportunity of Nate doing all the unpacking while she relaxed in a nice hot bath. Sophie gave her husband a kiss on the lips and then nearly spirited to the bathroom. Once Nate was sure that Sophie was in the tub he quietly left their bedroom and headed towards Audrey's. Nate knocked on his daughter's door and went inside once he got her permission.
''Hi Dad. Did you and mom finish packing already? I am just about finished.''
''No, not quite. Your mother is taking a bath and she thinks I am finishing with the unpacking but I wanted to talk to you.''
Nate sat on the bed and tapped the bed for Audrey to follow suit. Audrey sat beside her father and waited for him to speak.
''You know that your mother and I know there is something you're not telling us. There's more to that story you told Parker about missing your flight?''
'Yes.''
''Your mother is worried of course and I have to admit I am too. Audrey, you know your mother is there for you when you are ready and I hope you know I am here for you as well.''
''Yes, I know and thank you.''
''You're welcome. Well, I better go back before your mother comes looking for me. We all better get some sleep. Goodnight my daughter.''
Nate got up and kissed the top of his daughter's head and started to head towards the door.
''Dad, wait. Perhaps I should tell you what is going on. I am scared to tell Mum. I'm not ready to have her find out, but you can probably help me.''
Nate took his back his seat besides his daughter and waited for her to continue.
''What I am about to tell you will definitely have you worried. I am worried and I can just imagine how Mum would be if she found out. I know she is already so protective of me and she treats me like glass.''
''Okay. You can tell me what is going on and then we will decide what to do about your mother.''
''Okay. Well first thing is my father; Jack is very upset at the fact that you are now legally my father. When I was in New York I felt like I was always looking over my shoulder waiting for him to make a move but he didn't, not until the last day. He found my Mom and I at the Ritz, and he said he is going to protest the adoption. He told me he wasn't going to allow me to go back to Portland. He said that he is my father, and Laura is my mother, and I belong with them. He said he wasn't going to allow me to spend any more time with you or Mum, and that Mum is a terrible person who doesn't deserve to be a mother. At first I thought he was just mad at Mum for lying to him but… it is as if he has pure hatred for her. It really scares me. I think he has something on Mum, or at least he thinks he does. I have been thinking about it and I figure that my grandmother knows what that is. I don't know if Mum told you or not, but my grandmother approached me before the wedding.''
''Yes, she told me and she told me what she said to you.''
''So do you think she could know what it is?''
''Yes, perhaps. We will find out what that is… How were you able to get out of New York?''
''Oh yes. So, my father had someone watching my Mom and I. We knew he would be watching the flights out of New York. One of my Mom's society friends has a husband who has his own plane. She asked her if her husband would fly me to Portland and he agreed. Getting me to the airport was a little difficult, but we managed to get there and get me out of the city. I am sure my father is angrier than ever and I am scared to think what he is about to do.''
'' Your mother and I won't let anything happen to you. Jack won't be able to touch you. Try not to worry so much and we will figure this all out.''
''Okay, I will try.''
''That's my girl. Now I have to get back to your mother and you should try to get some sleep.''
''Okay. Goodnight, Dad''
''Goodnight.''
Nate kissed his daughter on top of her head once more and gave a reassuring smile to his daughter and then he left his daughter's room. Nate was about to turn the doorknob to his bedroom when his phone chimed letting him know he received an email. He stopped to look to see who it was from. It was from Jack.
''Dear Mr. Ford,
You may have my daughter for the time being, but this is not over. I will not allow you or that sorry excuse for a woman to raise my little girl. I will get Audrey back, make no mistake of that. My daughter will always be in danger in the presence of you and her so-called mother. Especially around her. Perhaps if you really knew the woman that you married you would agree with me. She had me fooled at one time and now she has you fooled. I suggest you find out what kind of woman your wife really is, and try to keep Audrey as far away from her as possible. That's what I tried to do but I failed. I am not going to give up trying to protect Audrey from her. Audrey belongs with her mother and I where she is safe. In time that is where she will be.
-Jack Walker''
Nate tried to process all that he just read. Jack definitely thought he had something on Sophie, but Nate had no doubt that he knew the woman he married. Nothing will ever change his love for Sophie. Jack is a man who will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. He was going to fight for Audrey and Nate is going to fight right back. Audrey was his daughter now, and he wasn't about to lose her. Nate put his phone back in his pocket and entered his bedroom. He found Sophie in her bathrobe and doing what he had said he would do, finishing with the unpacking.
''There you are, husband. You said you were going to unpack. I should have known better.''
Nate smiled and spun his wife around so he could see her pretty face and he wrapped his arms around her.
''I am so sorry my beautiful wife. I am a terrible husband. I just went to go get a snack and I ended up catching up on some things. I'll try to do better next time.''
''Oh, you are not a bad husband. All is forgiven.''
Nate kissed Sophie and then they broke apart. Sophie studied her husband for a moment.
''Is everything alright?''
''Yes everything is fine. I am married to the most beautiful woman in the world and I now a proud father to the most wonderful daughter in the world.''
''Yes that is true. How about we leave the rest of the packing until tomorrow? I am going to go say goodnight to our daughter and then you and I can get some ''sleep''. And don't worry, I won't push Audrey to tell me anything.''
Sophie gave Nate one last kiss and made her way towards her daughter's room. Nate watched her leave and promised himself that he would not let Jack do anything to his wife or his daughter. He would fight Jack with everything that he had. He finally had the family he always wanted; no one and nothing were going to ruin that.